Consumption of hand-hygiene products in health establishments in the west of France

• Published in: Médecine et maladies infectieuses 2005-06, Vol.35 (6), p.349-356
• Main Authors: Branger, B, Senechal, H, Bataillon, S, Ertzscheid, M A, Baron, R, Borgey, F, Thibon, P, Van Der Mee, N, Girard, N, Wiesel, M, Avril, C, Coulomb, F, Chaperon, J, Lejeune, B
• Format: Article
• Language: fre
• Subjects: Alcohols; Anti-Infective Agents, Local - economics; Cross Infection - prevention & control; Cross Infection - transmission; Disinfectants - economics; France; Hand Disinfection; Health Facilities - economics; Health Facilities - statistics & numerical data; Hospital Bed Capacity; Hospitals - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Hygiene - economics; Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient - prevention & control; Patient Admission - statistics & numerical data; Soaps - economics; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0399-077X

The study had for aim to investigate hand hygiene product use in French hospitals between 2000 and 2003. A questionnaire was sent in 2002 and 2 more in 2003 and 2004 (for 2000 to 2003) requiring data on type of hospital, number of beds, staff members, admissions and patient-day, litres of mild soap, antiseptic soap and alcohol-based rub used and price per litre. Indices were calculated accordingly. 574 hospitals answered over the 4 year period (average 143 per year) representing an average of 50 000 beds/year, 80 000 full-time staff positions, 1.2 million admissions and 16 millions patient-days. The median consumption of mild soap was 3.8 l per bed, 2.7 l per staff member, 2.4 l per 100 admissions, and 10.6 ml per patient-day. The median consumption of antiseptic soap was 1 l per bed, 0.8 l per staff member, 4.8 l per 100 admissions, and 3.2 ml per patient-day. The median consumption of alcohol-based rub (HAS) was 0.3 l per bed, 0.3 l per staff-member, 1.5 l per admission, and 0.9 l per patient-day. Between 2000 and 2003, HAS use significantly increased from 69 to 88% (a relative increase of 31%) and the median consumption increased from 0.5 ml to 1.5 ml per patient-day. 370 fully completed grids gave a number of 7 opportunities per patient-day with less than 1 for HAS. The best indicator for an infection control practitioners is the quantity of alcohol-based solution in ml/patient-day and HAS per patient-day is the reference.